Biomedical subjects

Bill Jeffries

Publications and source records attributed to Bill Jeffries.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Endogenous inhibitors of nitric oxide and preeclampsia: a review.

Nitric oxide (NO) is a potent vasodilator. NO is synthesized by NO synthases (NOS) and NOS are inhibited by asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA). ADMA is metabolized by dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH) and excreted in the kidneys. Lower ADMA levels in pregnant women compared to non-pregnant controls suggest that ADMA has a role in vascular dilatation and blood pressure changes. Several studies show an increase in ADMA levels in pregnancies complicated with preeclampsia. Elevated ADMA levels in preeclampsia are seen before clinical symptoms have developed; these findings suggest that ADMA has a role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.

Amidohydrolases↗

PubMed2006

Gestational diabetes--worth finding and actively treating.

Gestational diabetes affects around 5% of pregnant women, however the value of screening women for gestational diabetes has been hotly debated. On the positive side there has been potential benefits for the baby and, on the negative side, the costs of managing gestational diabetes to the mother. This controversy has largely been settled with the publication of the Australasian Carbohydrate Intolerance Study (ACHOIS). This article reviews the implications of ACHOIS for Australian women and their general practitioners.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Gestational diabetes versus obesity as risk factors for pregnancy-induced hypertensive disorders and fetal macrosomia.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether obesity and/or gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are independent risk factors for fetal macrosomia and/or pregnancy-induced hypertensive disorders. DESIGN: Retrospective computerised database review. SETTING: Lyell McEwin Health Service, South Australia. SAMPLE: All nulliparous women delivering singleton babies in the years 1999 and 2000 MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Birth weights, the occurrence of fetal macrosomia, gestational hypertension and preeclampsia were compared between 258 normoglycaemic women (control group), 76 women with only an abnormal glucose challenge test, and 51 women with GDM. RESULTS: Only GDM with fasting hyperglycaemia is a risk factor for macrosomia (risk ratio: 3.3 95% confidence limits 1.229-8.736). Smoking is associated with a decrease in the incidence of pregnancy-induced hypertensive disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Our data strongly suggest that GDM and obesity are not independent risk factors for pregnancy-induced hypertensive disorders.

Adult↗